Fish-hook.



v No."720,392. PATENTBD FEB. 10, 1903.

M. J. AMSDEN.

FISH HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 4, lQOl.

N0 MODEL.

Wiigasszs I I I v by I I games UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARGARET J. AMSDEN, OF WATERTO'WN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN H. FLANDER, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

FISH-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,392, dated February 10, 1903.

Application filed December 4, 1901. Serial No. 84,672. (No modelf) T at whom it may ooncerm.

Be it known that I, MARGARET J. AMSDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Fish-Hook, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fish-hooks, and particularly to a double spring-hook; and the IO object of the same is to provide simple and effective means for preventing the books from becoming entangled or caught in weeds and adapting the same for use in trolling or similar operations, the hook being sensitive in its r5 opening operation when a strike is made, but

ofiers a strong resistance to accidental opening operation while moving it through the water and weeds or grass.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fish-hook embodying the features 2 5 of the invention and shown in set condition. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the hook open. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hook in closed condition. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the improved hook, shown open in full lines and closed in dotted lines.

Similar numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates an upper springcoil, which also serves as an attaching-eye and has the opposite extremities continued into arms 2 and 3, which are normally expanded. The shank 4 of a hook 5 is secured to each of the arms 2 and 3 by solder or other suitable means, the hooks of the arms being turned inwardly toward each other, so that their bearded pointed extremities 6 will pass each other when the arms 2 and 3 are contracted or drawn together in setting the improved device. The lower extremities 7 and 8, respectively, of the arms 2 and 3 are extended outwardly, and they diverge from the shanks of the hooks, the terminal of the extremity '7 being formed into a blunt catch-hook 9, which stands at an angle to said extremity, and the opposite extremity 8 having its terminal 10 continuous therewith and slightly deflected to form an auxiliary stop.

In setting the improved hook the arms 2 and 3 are drawn together until the bearded pointed extremity 6 of one hook is caught in the hook 9 of the extremity 7, and when the said hook is so caught the bearded pointed extremity of the opposite hook bears against the terminal of the extremity 8 of the arm 3, thereby locking the hooks closed and shielding the points thereof, so that they will not catch upon Weeds or grass, and thus permit the improved device as an entirety to be readily drawn through the water Without obstruction from the sources mentioned. Before setting the hooks in the manner shown by Fig.

1 they will be supplied With bait, as maybe desired, and when a strike is made the pressure of the hooks toward each other, due to the force of the bite of the fish, will release the pointed extremities of the hooks, and they will immediately fly open to the position shown by Fig. 2, owing to the spring coil or eye 1. In view of the lateral deflection of the hooks, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, and which is a construction adopted for obvious reasons, they will stand outwardly from each other, and the compression inwardly when a strike is made will cause the pointed extremities of the hooks to respectively slip off from the catch-hook 9 and the terminal 10 of the extremity 8.

The improved form of hook set forth will be found exceptionallyconvenient for use in waters containing weeds or grass and also effective in sharing fish, and it will be seen that the construction generally is simple, and the cost of manufacture will therefore be reduced to a minimum. The same features of construction may be employed with hooks of dif- 9o ferent sizes, and in view of the employment of the arms 2 and 3 the strength and durability of the hook as an entirety will be materially increased.

Having thus described the invention, what 5 is claimed as new i s 1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of hooks, and spring-arms connecting the hooks and adapted to swing the same laterally and having terminal portions diverg- 1 oo ing from the hooks, the terminal portion at one hook being arranged to receive the pointed end of the other hook, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of hooks, a spring connecting the hooks and adapted to swing the same laterally, and arms diverging from the shanks of the hooks, the arm of each hook being arranged to receive the pointed end of the other hook whereby the pointed ends of both hooks are shielded, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of hooks, and an approximately V- shaped spring composed of two sides and a connecting portion, the sides having the hooks fixed to them and adapted to be swung together and capable of springing apart when released to swing the hooks laterally, and combined catches and guards carried by the sides of the springs, the catch and guard of one side being arranged to receive the point of the hook of the other side, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class set forth comprising a pair of resilient supporting-arms each having a hook secured thereto, the lower free extremity of the one arm being formed with an angularly-bent catch-hook and the other being slightly deflected, the said opposite extremities being engaged by the pointed ends of the hooks when the latter are in set condition.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MARGARET J. AMSDEN.

Witnesses:

EDMUND HALL, WESLEY E. MILLER. 

